Automatic Boxing Apparatus for Products on Stick
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic boxing apparatuses for products on stick are complex and costly, with high production, management, and maintenance expenses due to the need for adaptable picking units and human oversight to ensure accurate product counting, which affects efficiency and quality.
Innovation Solution
A closed transport line system with independently movable units and a control unit using sensors and electromagnetic induction for precise product placement and counting, allowing for flexible and efficient automatic boxing without individual product wrappers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If picking units are designed to adapt to the real positions of products on stick, then the accuracy of product placement is improved, but the device complexity increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical picking units with a pusher mechanism that uses controlled pushing forces to guide products into boxes. Instead of adaptive mechanical grippers, the system uses a pusher (element 64) that applies force to move products along a predetermined path into the box, eliminating the need for complex position-sensing and adaptive-mechanics systems while maintaining placement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The product itself serves as the positioning reference. The control system detects the actual positions of products on the units and uses this information to control the pusher's movement, allowing the product's own position to dictate the picking operation rather than requiring the picking unit to actively adapt to each product position.
2Reliability
If automatic control systems are implemented to measure product positions, then the reliability of product counting is improved, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex adaptive mechanical picking systems with a simpler control system that detects product positions and controls a pusher mechanism. The control system (element 70) uses sensors to detect product positions and translates this information into controlled pushing movements, achieving reliable product counting and placement without the complexity of adaptive mechanical grippers.
Solution Approach 2:
The pusher acts as an intermediary element between the detection system and the product. Rather than the picking unit directly grasping and positioning products, the pusher applies controlled forces to guide products into the box based on detection system feedback, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If human operators visually assess box contents, then the manufacturing precision is maintained, but the productivity decreases due to manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-inspection through the control system (element 70) that automatically detects product positions on the units and verifies the correct number of products are placed in each box. This eliminates the need for manual visual inspection while maintaining counting accuracy, as the control system continuously monitors the boxing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated control system that uses sensors and control logic to verify product placement. The control system processes detection data and automatically ensures correct product counting, eliminating the bottleneck of manual inspection and increasing overall productivity.
4Reliability
If the number of products per box is strictly controlled, then the reliability of product quality is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to stringent control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically ensures the correct number of products per box by detecting product positions and controlling the pusher's operation. The system self-regulates to maintain quality consistency without requiring operators to manually count or adjust products, as the automated control handles the stringent requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously receives feedback from product position detection and adjusts the pusher's operation accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the correct number of products are placed in each box while automatically handling the complexity of quality control, making the operation simpler for users.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system simplifies the structure and reduces costs while ensuring high efficiency and effectiveness in boxing products on stick, maintaining product quality and consumer satisfaction by accurately counting and placing products without human intervention.
Implementation Method 1
measure the actual positions of the products on stick using control systems integrated in the apparatus
Implementation Method 2
the apparatus adapts the operations for picking up from the units so that the pick-up units pick up and always place the same number of product on stick
Data Source
AI summary
Described is an apparatus for automatically boxing products on stick including: a closed transport line, a plurality of units, each movable independently, along the transport line in a feed direction, each including a retaining system for retaining a product on stick, an unloading unit configured for picking up a predetermined number of products on stick from the units and boxing said predetermined number of products on stick, a control and return unit, positioned upstream relative to the unloading unit relative to the feed direction along the transport line, configured for controlling the presence of products on stick in the units moving along the forward guide, for selectively interrupting the movement of the units in the feed direction.